Understanding Some of The Top Factors Influencing Special Districts

special districts California

Numerous factors influence the making or formation of special districts in California. Some of these factors include tax and debt limitations, removal from politics and limitation on the power of local governments. To understand more about the factors that influence special districts, read this post to the end.

Financial factors

Financial reasons tend to encourage the creation of California special districts. Some of these financial reasons include tax and debt limitations, financing services through user or service charges as opposed to the general tax revenues, the broader financial base that may be available to support particular services and more.

Limitations of local government powers and the need for services

There are three general types of limitations on local government powers. These limitations include the inability of local governments to establish taxing areas within their boundaries, strict construction of powers that are granted to local governments and lack of authority for local governments. In our previous posts, we defined what is a special district. We also explained what special districts can do and what they cannot do. It was evident that special districts have limited powers.

Limitations imposed on special districts by existing local government’s boundaries

Existing boundaries of units of local government impose limitations to special districts. These limitations relate to the restrictions on the power of local governments. Two types of boundary situations exist and influence the criteria of special districts. The first one is where different units of the general local government exist within the area of service which is necessary for effective and efficient management of some functions.

The second is the challenge created where geographic features of the area determine the territorial scope for the function of special districts California. Efficient or geographic service area requirements pay no heed to the boundaries of the existing units of the general government.

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